A Bristol man who stole three dogs has been jailed after he was caught on CCTV and identified on Facebook.

Martin MacDonagh snatched English springer spaniels Maddie, Harley and Brandy, and the event was captured on camera and thousands shared the appeal to get the dogs home.

Brandy, 6, was later discovered wandering the streets of Bristol a month after the theft in January 2016, but the whereabouts of Maddie, 7, and seven-month-old Harley remains unknown. The dogs, worth £5,000 were taken from a home in Chalford near Stroud, before a social media campaign launched with more than 5,200 sharing the images to catch the thief.

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“A witness called police and officers were given the defendant’s name. On February 23, 2016 he was arrested on another matter and he gave a no comment interview.

“One dog was found roaming the streets in Bristol and that was the most expensive at £3,000 – the other two dogs were worth less, at £1,000 each.”

CCTV images were released by Gloucestershire Police after the dogs were stolen (Image: Gloucestershire Police)

The Facebook group 'STOLEN Maddie Brandy and Harley' has more than 5,200 members who widely shared the images of the crime. MacDonagh was charged in March last year and went on the run, twice failing to show up to court.

Will Rose, defending, said his client was in poor mental health due to traumatic events in the past and was easily persuaded.

“He is 45 and has a very long and difficult history with mental health,” said Mr Rose.

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Miss Daley said MacDonagh has 30 convictions for 72 offences to his name up to 2015, including attempted burglary in Germany, an offence in Denmark, driving while disqualified, burglary and assaulting a police officer.

He was jailed for six months, ordered to pay £2,000 compensation to Mr Manson at £10 per fortnight. He was also told to pay £150 compensation to the assault victim.